Like I say, it's impossible to carry on a reasonable discussion at Mudcat, of anything that has religious implications.

Jack, the point of the matter is that it makes no difference whether the torture/murderers were Christian, Muslim, or Purple People Eaters. The group they belong to, did not commit the crimes. Christians as a whole have no reason to take responsibility for what these criminals did.

Now, if these people belong to a sect of Christianity that promotes torture of "witches," then that particular sect has responsibility. But I have no more connection to these people than anyone else here has. Why should I be required to acknowledge these criminals as "my own"?? Persecuting witches is certainly not part of my faith.

Interestingly, you can get away with blaming a religious group for what these people have done. If you were blame their ethnic or racial group, all hell would break loose. The lesson: don't blame the group for the crimes of a few members of that group.

The Guardian has a pretty good opinion piece about this incident. This crime was child abuse. Child abuse happens in all sectors of society, and the abusers hide behind their religion or need for discipline or any number of factors. But it's the abusers who are to blame, not the excuses they hide behind.

-Joe-